Working as a car haul trucker means you have extremely valuable cargo in your care. You’ll have to protect these items, and you’ll need your trucking insurance to cover them effectively. Still, regardless of the insurance you carry, you can’t prevent every security risk that might threaten the truck or its cargo. Thieves consistently target car haulers because of the nature of the cars they carry. So, you’ll need to do what you can to protect your cargo at all times. What are some of the most practical security steps you need to take?
Your trucking insurance might help you cover many theft risks related to car hauling. Yet, all policies will come with conditions attached. Work with your agent to establish appropriate coverage for your unique operations. 
How Insurance Can Help Theft Risks
Theft can happen when you least expect it. Thieves normally target the cars on the car hauler. The cars that you transport are expensive items in and of themselves. Often, they remain exposed (and vulnerable) to risks when attached to your truck or trailer. Thieves might target them for parts, such as the engine, batteries or removable items. Or, they might even try to steal an entire vehicle.
Regardless of the extent of the theft, the act might affect not only you, but also your clients. Those who own the car stand to lose out financially in case theft occurs. You stand to lose out because you did not safeguard their item during transport. The financial ramifications, in any case, might prove costly.
In such situations, you might want your trucking insurance to cover you. Your policy might be able to provide help for losses related to vehicle theft or vandalism. Still, research carefully when seeking out coverage for cargo theft or damage.
Covering Vehicle Cargo Theft
It is often very difficult to insure vehicles in the care of your car hauler. This is because protecting them often proves quite hard.
These vehicles often face considerable exposure to theft risks. The risk is so great, in fact, that some insurers refuse to cover vehicles stolen off of your haulers. Some even exclude the coverage specifically. Others might only offer coverage if you take reasonable precautions to protect these vehicles.
You understand the importance of having appropriate insurance coverage for these theft risks. The agents at Walnut Risk Management can help you enroll in appropriate theft protection for all the vehicles in your care. Therefore, in case the worst does occur, you will have support behind you.
Reducing Theft Risks
Often, trucking insurance will require you to take steps to protect your cargo. Therefore, if you do file a claim, the insurer will know you did everything you could to prevent theft. So, they have a higher likelihood of honoring your claim.
Since car hauling involves considerable theft risks, it might sometime feel like a hard task to make the cargo safer. Nevertheless, security steps are possible. What are some of these? How can you make yourself and your truck more secure?
- Always have proof of ownership on the truck and trailer. Furthermore, keep a comprehensive inventory of the cargo in your care. You should know every vehicle you will carry, and how far it will travel with you.
- Ensure that all the vehicles are secure on the trailer. Lock them down and check on them frequently.
- Make your truck and trailer identifiable. Consider adding unique identifiers like bumper stickers to both items. Some people even choose unique paint job.
- Consider adding extra security features to your vehicle. These might include GPS trackers, trailer alarms, light alarms, coupler locks and wheel locks.
- Park and safeguard your truck. Do your best to never leave it unattended in areas that might attract thieves. Park in lighted areas, preferably in view of others. Most truck stops, parking lots and other facilities have truck parking. These often offer the most secure places to keep the vehicle.
- Never leave the cab, or any of the vehicles in your care, unlocked and without armed security.
In Case of a Claim
If the worst does happen, contact the police immediately to report the theft. They’ll need to know the specifics of a stolen vehicle to help track it. Also contact the client who owns the stolen vehicle. They may need to take action on their own.
Finally, contact your insurance provider. Explain to them exactly what happened. Present them with a police report that describes to them the nature of the loss. You might also need to present photos or other proof that a theft occurred.
Your agent will help you work through the claim itself. Nevertheless, don’t forget to take preventative measures. At the end of the day, your car hauler and its cargo might remain safer.